Plasma soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 concentration is elevated prior to the clinical diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.

TLDR: In this article, the concentrations of sVEGFR-1 in plasma of pre-eclamptic patients change prior to the clinical manifestations of the disease and correlates with the severity of the diseases.

Abstract: Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests that the balance between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and their receptors is important for effective vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and placental development. Recently, the soluble form of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1), an antagonist to VEGF and PlGF, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. Plasma sVEGFR-1 concentration is elevated in pre-eclampsia at the time of clinical diagnosis and correlates with the severity of the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the concentrations of sVEGFR-1 in plasma of pre-eclamptic patients change prior to the clinical manifestations of the disease.Methods: A longitudinal case-control study was conducted in normal pregnant women (n = 44) and patients with pre-eclampsia (n = 44). Blood sampling was performed at six intervals: (1) 7–16 weeks; (2) 16–24 weeks; (3) 24–28 weeks; (4) 28–32 weeks; (5) 32–36 weeks; and (6) more than 37 weeks of gestation. To exam...